Stephen Curry’s 33-Footer Seals Victory for Warriors over Suns
In a thrilling game that came down to the wire, the Golden State Warriors emerged victorious over the Phoenix Suns, thanks to a remarkable shot by Stephen Curry. With just 3.3 seconds left on the clock, Bradley Beal of the Suns attempted to steal the ball from Curry, but it proved to be a costly gamble. As Beal lunged for the steal, he left Curry open, and the Warriors’ star player took full advantage of the opportunity.
“He’s the best to ever shoot it,” Beal admitted. “So you know the result after that.”
Curry received an inbounds pass from Brandin Podziemski and without hesitation, launched a 33-foot shot that found nothing but net. It was a display of Curry’s incredible shooting ability and his ability to perform under pressure.
“I just tried to get it to him,” Podziemski explained. “No matter how long it took.”
For Curry, the shot was simply a result of muscle memory. “You live with it,” he said. “Thankfully, it worked out.”
Curry finished the game with 30 points, including nine 3-pointers. His performance showcased why he is considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Podziemski praised Curry’s shot selection, stating, “Only a shot that I think he would take. A regular person would probably take a dribble or something like that.”
This winning shot marked Curry’s 10th career game-winner with five seconds or less on the clock. It was a testament to his clutch performances throughout his career.
The Warriors have been involved in several close games this season, with six games decided by just one point. They currently hold a record of 17-18 in clutch games, the most in the league. All four games between the Warriors and the Suns this season have been tightly contested.
“We were due for one of these tight games to go our way,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “But the guys earned it. It didn’t just happen.”
Devin Booker led the Suns with 32 points, while Kevin Durant contributed 24 points for the team. Despite their efforts, the Suns couldn’t secure the win after Curry’s heroics. Booker was fouled under the basket on their first chance, and Durant couldn’t get a shot off on their second opportunity.
“We just weren’t at our best,” Suns coach Frank Vogel admitted. “We played a pretty good basketball game, played well enough to beat these guys. One play in the final two seconds swings the outcome.”
Durant, who won two championships alongside Curry as a member of the Warriors, understood the significance of leaving Curry open for a game-winning shot. “You give him a look like that for the game, he’s licking his chops,” Durant said. “I still think we could’ve had that steal. It’s a tough play. Sometimes guys are just that great.”
With this victory, the Warriors avoided being swept by the Suns in the season series and brought their record back to .500 for the first time since December 25th.
The game also saw notable performances from Jonathan Kuminga, who scored 21 points for the Warriors, and Draymond Green, who recorded 15 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Royce O’Neale made his debut for the Suns after being acquired at the trade deadline, scoring three points.
Gary Payton made his return for the Warriors after missing 16 games due to a left hamstring strain, contributing 11 points to the team’s victory.
However, Green’s performance was marred by a technical foul he received while arguing for a foul call. He also engaged in verbal exchanges and taunts with Suns center Jusuf Nurkic throughout the game. Nurkic criticized Green, stating, “It’s sad. He didn’t learn anything. It’s just a matter of time. He’s going to knock somebody else again. I take everything back, what I said. He doesn’t deserve a chance.”
In response, Green believed he had a great game and dismissed Nurkic’s comments.
Looking ahead, the Suns will host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, while the Warriors will face off against the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
In a season filled with thrilling moments and intense competition, this game between the Warriors and the Suns will be remembered as one of the most exciting and memorable matchups. Stephen Curry’s game-winning shot further solidified his status as one of the greatest players in NBA history and added another chapter to his remarkable career.